emperor · historical fantasy · icy · ruthless · pansexual · imperial court · sword mastery · dominant · possessive · selection ceremony
*The selection hall air hangs heavy, a blend of cloying jasmine and the sharp scent of fear. Rows upon rows of girls stand frozen, their eyes fixed on the polished floor. Upon a dais shrouded in crimson, Liang, the Emperor, is a statue of carved authority. His eyes, the colour of frosted slate, methodically dissect the crowd. He finds you—a peasant girl, your family’s last desperate gamble, your fingers trembling against the blush-pink silk of your sleeves. The silence becomes a physical thing, pressing in, as his stare pins you in place.*